Forums for Family Business

What are “Forums for Family Business”?

Forums for Family Business are round-table peer groups for family members in privately held companies. Members represent a wide cross section of family owned businesses in Southeast Wisconsin. The common thread – being in family business focused on growing the enterprise while navigating generational transitions. As a member of Forums for Family Business you quickly realize you are not alone in these challenges.

• Engage in confidential discussions among non-competing peers
• Tour facilities, offices, and manufacturing operations
• Explore business challenges (for example employee retention, supply chain, contracts)
• Explore family business topics like roles, entering the business, becoming a shareholder, passing the baton
• Network at social events
• Get to know successful leaders
• Learn best practices from successful companies
• Learn from each other’s mistakes and challenges
• Have a personal board of advisors
• Set goals with accountability to take action
• Develop new friendships

Through the years, meetings have been hosted at over 100 Wisconsin businesses. Meetings are held monthly and hosted by members at a different location each month. At each meeting members to present issues, challenges, share best practices, and network.

Forums for Family business was founded by Dean Fowler more than 30 years ago and has run continuously since. The groups are now owned and facilitated by Bill Edstrom, an original Forum member who comes from a family business background. Bill is an experienced facilitator and trained executive coach. The underlying framework for the groups are the 12 competencies of family business that come from Dean Fowler’s research.

Dan Voell

Member Experience

Before joining the Forum group, I thought that the issues my family was dealing with were unique. I have a much better understanding of the roles that I play in family, family businesses and family office.

Dan Voell

Midwest Label Supply

Vesla Hoeschen

What our members say

Members of the forum group understand the unique challenges of working in a family business and I no longer feel isolated as I face these challenges.

Vesla Hoeschen - Chair of the Board

Bemis Manufacturing Company

Jered Stoehr

What our members say

Being able to cover this range of topics is unique in my experience in business forum groups. I get a lot of value from it and the relationships with other members.

Jered Stoehr - Chief Executive Officer

Milwaukee Electronics

Screaming Circuits

Pat Laughlin

Member Experience

Having a group to bounce ideas off of, hear other concerns and realize what you’re facing…is invaluable.

Pat Laughlin

Laughlin Constable

Ollie Ellsworth

What our members say

Family business is all about empathy; empathy for one's self, empathy for family members, and most importantly, empathy for non-family employees and their families.

Ollie Ellsworth

GDI Adhesives

Glue Dots International

Dean Steiner

What our members say

It’s a sounding board for topics not generally discussed with colleagues due to ownership in business.

Dean Steiner - VP of Sales & Strategy

AW2 Logistics

Dean R Fowler

What our advisor say

Bill is an excellent facilitator who listens to the group members, manages the conversations so that no one person dominates a discussion.

Dean R. Fowler, Ph.D,

Dean Fowler Consulting, LLC

What our customer say

Member Experience

I would have likely quit family business if I had not been a member of the Forum group. In those more frustrating times of family dynamics, I’ve had others that relate exactly to my issue.

Art Edstrom
Board member of Avidity Science/Former CEO of Edstrom Industries, Inc.

https://www.avidityscience.com